Match Report: Sunday 24/09/2006 21:00 (GMT +2): La Liga, Match Day 4
FC BARCELONA - VALENCIA CF 1:1 (0:1)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Attendance: 85.000
Referee: Arturo Dauden Ibanez


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Zambrotta, Márquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst - Edmilson (Iniesta 46´), Xavi, Deco - Messi (Saviola 84´), Eto'o, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Valencia CF (4-5-1): Canizares - Miguel, Ayala, Albiol (Navarro 73´), Moretti – Edu, Albelda (Hugo Viana 89´), Vicente, Joaquin, Silva – Villa (Angulo 76´) - Manager: Quique Sanchez Flores


Goals:

0-1 Villa (17´)
1-1 Iniesta (49´)


Match Report:


In the match of the week, FC Barcelona lost two points in an entertaining 1-1 draw against Valencia in Camp Nou despite a strong second half performance. David Villa opened the scoring in the 17th minute after some nice midfield play before substitute Andres Iniesta equalised 4 minutes after the start of the second half which Barcelona dominated clearly. Barca in total had 18 shots at Valencia´s goal and finally would have deserved to take all three points, but a slow start and sloppy first half, let Valencia escape Camp Nou with a point. However, the point was enough for Barca to claim top spot because FC Sevilla lost at the Vicente Calderon against Atletico Madrid (2-1). FC Barcelona leads arch-rivals Real Madrid and Valencia on goal-difference. Each team have 10 points from four games.


Before the game, Valencia´s coach Quique Sanchez Flores already surprised with the choice of his starting line-up. Flores left out inform striker Morientes and chosed instead Vicente, David Silva and Joaquin to support the only striker David Villa up front.


The FC Barcelona team tried to control the game right from the beginning but all three midfileders, Edmílson, Xavi and Deco struggled to find the normal rhythm while Valencia cleverly outnumbered and closed down the Barca midfield. Valencia worked very effective and a lack of imagination from the Barca midfield as well as very solid defending by the Valencia team, who put a wall of players up in front of the penalty area, made it impossible for Barca to create any danger in front of Los Che´s goal. At this period of the match, Valencia looked sharper and mentally fitter. As expected, they were sitting back and waiting to surprise Barca on their counter-attacks.


The trick worked when Valencia shocked Barca as they took the lead with a nice piece of football in the 18th minute. Deco lost the ball in midfield to Edu and winger Joaquín drew Barca left full back Gio Van Bronckhorst out of position while Miguel run down the right wing into the free space. Brazilian midfielder Edu then set up full back Miguel and his fine, low cross found David Villa at the far post, who slid the ball home.


Moments later Vicente fired a shot that Valdés stopped.


Few first half chances for Barca and all coming from long range efforts. Ronaldinho´s free-kick was superbly saved by Valencia´s goalkeeper Canizares in the 27th minute, while later, Deco shot twice wide from outside the penalty area.


Backed by the 1-0 lead, Valencia was sitting even deeper in their half but still looked dangerous. Just before half time whistle, Villa went passed his marker Rafa Marquez and beat Valdés from six yards and a tight angle but the ball luckily only hit the post.


Barca coach Frank Rijkaard reacted at the break, substituted the more offensive Andres Iniesta for Edmilson and the change should prove to be decisive. Iniesta took the initiative in midfield right from the start and it was the Spanish international who slotted home in the 49th minute. Before, Ronaldinho dribbled on the left edge of the penalty area, then crossed the ball into the centre of the penalty area where Samuel Eto'o headed down to lay off for Iniesta to shot the ball into the right-hand corner of the goal.


Now Barca raised their level and were out to score the winner. Valencia have been totally pressured into their own half and Barca created several opportunities to score the winner. Messi went close and Deco had two more chances. Ronaldinho now was nearly involved in every attack and tried to find a way through Valencia´s concrete wall with some of his stunning tricks. Xavi and Gio Van Bronckhorst sent their shots just next to the post.


Now, coach Rijkaard played his last trump card 6 minutes before the end and surprisingly brought on Javier Saviola for Leo Messi. The trick nearly paid off 2 minutes later, when a low cross found the Argentine international free in front of the goal, but his side-footed deflection was saved by Canizares.


The closing moments turned dramatic. First, when Barca´s top striker Samuel Eto'o should have got a rightful penalty when defender Miguel clearly kicked Eto'o from behind in the penalty area and second when Ronaldinho won a free kick just out side of the penalty area. Unfortunately, Ronnie did´t do the magic and hit the top of the wall and the ball deflected out of the danger zone.


Despite creating many goal scoring opportunities Barca had to settle for a draw.


My Comment:

The Spanish Championship is wide open. All 5 favourites are at the top. Barca is leading due to goal difference with the Merengues and Valencia on equally 10 points. FC Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are just behind on 9 points.
Clearly this have been 2 points lost rather than 1 point gained, but I am not worried about the result. In 2 weeks, we see FC Sevilla at the Camp Nou and Barca can take revenge for the European super Cup defeat last month. I just can not see FC Sevilla or Valencia winning more matches than Barca over the entire season.


Barca overslept the first half and to be honest, if Villa would have scored instead of hitting the post, it would have been extremely difficult for Barca to get a result on that night. On the other hand, Barca should have had 2 penalties (both on Eto'o) which could have wone the game.

Iniesta gain showed what he is worth for Barca. Like so many times, he showed that he can turn a match around and I believe it is time that he has to start games and put the pressure on the opponents right from the beginning.


Barca is at the top now after 4 matches. Pole Position in a long lasting Championship. Great, having to watch opponents from the back mirrow. Just hope, it stays like this until the end of the season!


Next week, we face a difficult trip to Bilbao. Força Barca!